A woman whose job with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers has made her both famous and infamous during many stressful times is leaving her post. Jody Farhat, the Corps’ Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Office, is retiring today (Friday) after 34 years on the job. Farhat notes she’s seen some very difficult challenges as the Corps responded to extreme flooding or devastating drought conditions.

“I think I managed through those rough times knowing that the Corps has done our job the best that we could,” Farhat says. For example, the Corps — and Farhat — came under intense criticism during the floods of 2011 when high water on the Missouri River swamped cities and towns all across western Iowa and from North Dakota all the way to Missouri.

“The work that we do really does impact people,” Farhat says. “Trying to be very empathetic with folks and letting them know that we do understand that what we do impacts their lives and their livelihoods.” The Corps works to maintain an even, level flow of water in the Missouri River basin and in its reservoir system, but it’s often a difficult balance, trying to allow for snowpack in the Rockies and heavy rains versus long droughts. Farhat says she always tried to be as open as possible about river operations.

“It’s been a great honor for me to have worked for the Corps,” she says. “I believe that the Corps is a great institution and we really are focused on service to the public. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” Farhat says she isn’t going to another job. She’s retiring and plans to stay in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.

(Radio Iowa)